Shielded connector with hermaphroditic shell

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector (2) is comprised of a shielded connector component (4) having a shielding shroud (12) integrated with a front flange section (10). The shielded connector (4) is positionable within a hermaphroditic shielding shell (25) where the shielding shell includes hook members (76,78) on opposing sides thereof for inter-engagement at the front of the shell members. Fasteners (90) can then be used to retain the two shell halves (25) together.

Description: The present invention relates to an electrical connector according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1. It is common in telecommunication and/or data connection systems to provide an electrical connector of a Sub-miniature-D configuration where a shielded electrical connector includes a metal shroud surrounding electrical contacts, where the shroud is provided for EMI/RFI protection and must be commoned to the shielding braid of shielded cable to be terminated to the electrical connector. Typically, the shielded electrical connector is placed within a stamped and formed metal or a cast metal outer housing comprised of two outer shell members. It is desirable to have an effective electrical contact between the outer shell members and both the individual shield on the connector as well as to the cable shielding braid. These shielding shells are typically used as the commoning link between the shielding braid and the individual shield on the connector, and it is often times necessary to make contact also with the outer shielding shell. However it is difficult to provide such an electrical connection with the presently available technology, and at the same time provide an easily installable connection assembly. An electrical connector having the features of the pre-characterizing part of claim 1 is known from EP-A-0 125 498. The shells are not shaped identically. According to Fig. 2 of this reference, one of the two shells includes protrusions, while in the other of the two shells there is provided a recess having a curved guiding face along which the protrusion of the first shell slides when the two shells are pivoted. EP-A-0 080 813 discloses an electrical connector with hermaphroditic housing parts. However, these housing parts or shells are not pivotable. It is the object of the invention then to provide an electrical connector providing an easy assembly of outer shells over an inner connector assembly. This object is accomplished in accordance with the features of claim 1. The electrical connector assembly comprises an inner shielded connector and outer shielding shells adapted to encompass the inner shield connector. The assembly has shielding shells with complementary hook members adjacent to one peripheral edge thereof for locking the shell members together, and fastening means adjacent to an opposing peripheral edge of the shell members to retain the shell member together. Preferably the one peripheral edge is along the front edge thereof, and the opposing peripheral edge is towards the rear of the shell members. The invention will now be described by way of reference to the drawing figures where: Figure 1 is an isometric view of the connector assembly shown in an exploded manner ready for assembly with the shielding shells; Figure 2 is an upper plan view of one of the shell halves; Figure 3 is a side view of the shell member shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the shell of Figure 2; Figure 5 is the opposite side view of the shell member as that shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is an end view of the shell member of that shown in Figure 2; Figure 7 shows the interengagement of the two shell members; and Figure 8 is an isometric view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the fully assembled connector. With reference first to Figure 1, an electrical connector is shown generally at 2, and will be described, which includes an inner shielded connector 4 terminated to electrically shielded cable 6. The electrical connector 4 is a shielded connector assembly similar to that provided by the assignee, and referred to as AMPLIMITE HD-20. The connector 4 is generally comprised of a shield member 8 having a front flange portion 10 having apertures 11, and an integrally formed shielding shroud 12 which forms a D-configuration for polarized interconnection with a corresponding connector. Electrical terminals are shown at 14 which extend through a housing portion 16 and include wire connecting sections (not shown) which could be either insulation displacement contacts or wire crimp contacts, although it is more common to provide insulation displacement contacts on such electrical connectors. The shielded cable 6 includes a plurality of individual insulated wire conductors 18 which can be terminated to the wire connecting sections of the connector 4 and thereby interconnected to corresponding pin terminals 14 of the connector 4. The shielding cable 6 further includes shielding braid 20 which is typically dressed over outer insulation 22 of the shielded cable 6 to assist in making better ground contact. With respect now to both Figures 1 and 2, an outer shielding shell is shown generally at 25, and it should be appreciated that two identical shielding shells 25 are included, and each half includes corresponding features. The shielding shell 25 includes a base wall 26 having an inner surface 28 and an outer surface 30 (Figure 1). The inner surface 28 includes a transverse rib 32 proximate to a front end of the shielding shell 25, with a pair of bosses 34 directly behind the transverse rib 32 and positioned against side walls 36,38 as will be described herein. Rear wall sections 40 and 42 extend upwardly from the base wall 26 where rear wall section 40 includes a threaded connection at 44 within a semi-circular boss 45, whereas rear wall section 42 includes a U-shaped receiving section 46 surmounted by a flange section 48. It should be appreciated that the semi-circular boss 45 and the semi-circular recess 46 are at substantially the same axial distance from the front edge of the shielding shell 25 such that the corresponding semi-circular boss 45 of a corresponding shielding shell can reside within and against the semi-circular recess 46. Rearwardly of the rear wall portions 40 and 42 are wall sections 50 and 52 which lead into a cable receiving section shown generally as 54. The cable receiving section includes an axial semi-cylindrical slot 56 having barbs at 58. The cable receiving section 54 further includes upper surfaces 60 and 62, where upper surface 62 includes an exterior rim section 64, while upper surface 60 has on its outer periphery, a corresponding slot 66. The cable receiving section further includes one threaded opening at 70 and one through hole 72. Adjacent to the front edge of the shielding shell 25 are a pair of corresponding hook sections 76 and 78 where hook section 76 is profiled at the front of an extension wall 80 which projects above the opposing wall 38, whereas hook section 78 is profiled within the side wall section 38 by way of a reduced thickness section 85. The hook member 76 defines a corresponding slot or opening 77 as best shown in Figure 3, whereas the hook member 78 defines a slot or opening 79 as best shown in Figure 5. At the front edge of walls 36,38 are relief surfaces 86,88, as best shown in Figure 1. With the components as described above, the connector can be assembled as follows. The shielded cable 6 can be prepared as shown in Figure 1 and the individual conductors 18 can be interconnected to the wire connecting sections of terminals 14. The shielding braid 20 can thereafter be dressed over the outer insulation 22 and the shielded cable 6 and connector 4 can be positioned within one shielding shell 25 with the flange portion 10 residing between the transverse rib 32 and the bosses 34. This places the shielding braid 20 within the cylindrical recess 56 and against the barb sections 58. The corresponding shielding shell 25 can be positioned over the connector member 4 as shown in Figure 7, and can be rotated somewhat in the direction of Arrow A so that hook member 76 is positioned within its corresponding slot 79 and engaging with hook member 78, while hook member 78 resides within its corresponding slot 77 and engages hook member 76. This also places the semi-cylindrical boss member 45 within the semi-cylindrical recess 46 and aligns corresponding apertures 70 and 72. As shown in Figure 1, threaded fasteners 90 may now be inserted through the aperture 72 and brought into threaded engagement with threaded openings 70. As shown in Figure 8, threaded fasteners, or jack screws 92 having first and second threaded sections 94 and 96 can be inserted through the threaded openings 44 such that the threaded sections 96 will project through apertures 11 in the flange section 10 and will flank the shroud section 12 for threading engagement with a mating connector. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the flange sections 10 of the inner connector 4 are commoned together. This commoning could be performed by the mating connector, or could be made by way of clips within the shielding shells 25 which contact the flange member 10. Alternatively, the height of the shielded flange 10, could be somewhat greater than the dimension between opposing surfaces 28, when the shells 25 are closed. Thus, when the shells 25 are fully rotated into position, contact between the shielded connector 4 and the shell members 25 would be ensured by way of the fasteners 90. It should be appreciated from Figure 7 that the surface 86 and corresponding surface 88 allow relief areas, for the pivotal movement of the two shell members 25. Advantageously, the invention provides an electrical connector design which has easily assembled outer shells about an inner connector. This design is adaptable to hermaphroditic construction enabling the reduction of cost as only a single component is being produced at twice the volume. The invention is particularly suited for use in shielded connectors as the shells could include a conductive portion for connecting shielding of the inner connector to shielding of the cable. Especially advantageous in this instance is that the interconnection could be formed without addition parts which would add to expense and assembly difficulties.

Claims: An electrical connector (2) comprised of an inner connector (4), and outer shells (25) adapted to encompass the inner shielded connector, the shells (25) having complementary hook members (76, 78) adjacent to one peripheral edge thereof for locking the shells (25) together, and a fastening member adjacent to an opposing peripheral edge of the shells (25) to retain the shells (25) together, the hook members (76, 78) being interengageable, whereupon the shells (25) are pivotable about the hook members (76, 78) to close the shells (25), characterized in that a pair of identical shells (25) is used, each shell (25) having a pair of corresponding hook members (76,78), where the two hooks (76, 78) on one shell (25) have a different shape, such that the slot (77, 79) of each hook (76, 78) extends in a different direction and the first hook member (78) of the first shell engages a second hook member (76) of the second shell and the second hook member (76) of the first shell engages the first hook member (78) of the second shell. An electrical connector (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral edge is along the front edge thereof, and the opposing peripheral edge is towards the rear of the shells (25). An electrical connector (2) according to any of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner connector (4) comprises an outer shield (8) comprised of a flange (10), and in that said shells (25) include alignment members (32, 34) positioned inside the shells (25) to position the inner connector (4) therein. An electrical connector (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the height of the flange (10) is somewhat larger than the inside dimension of the shells, whereby the inner connector (4) may be positioned in one of the shells (25), and the corresponding shell (25) can be interengaged by way of the hook members (76, 78), and pivoted about the peripheral edge to bring the shells (25) into engagement with the flange (10) of the inner connector (4). An electrical connector (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shells (25) include semi-cylindrical recesses (56) through a rear (54) thereof for entry cf a shielded cable (6), and for electrical engagement with a shielding braid (20) of the cable (6). An electrical connector (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the shells (25) form an electrical interconnection between the inner connector (4) and the Shielding braid (20) of the cable (6). An electrical connector (2) according to any of the proceeding claims, characterized in that the shells (25) are conductive.

Inventors: GOEPEL ROLAND, KRAEMER RUDOLF, GOEPEL, ROLAND, KRAEMER, RUDOLF, Göpel, Roland, Krämer, Rudolf
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13